Number of house fires in area rises as temperature drops

Five people were left looking for answers after a Thursday morning fire destroyed their home, but the family may not be the only one left out in the cold because of fire this winter.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a fire at 617 N. Spanish St. around 2 a.m. and had the blaze under control after 15 minutes. The scene's first responders encountered heavy smoke coming from the rear of the home, according to a news release. Investigators believe the fire started when an electrical device in the home's kitchen malfunctioned.

The house was occupied by an adult and four children, according to the release. No one was injured.

The home is uninhabitable at this time. Damage is estimated at $60,000.

The family was approached by a Red Cross representative, and the not-for-profit disaster agency is helping them find a place to stay and get back on their feet, said Cheryl Klueppel, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Red Cross chapter. Specifics of what the family needs were not yet available, Klueppel said.

"Our hearts go out to the family members," Klueppel said. "It's a tough time."

Thursday's house fire is not the first the Red Cross has tended to this holiday season, and, according to statistics, it may not be the last.

As temperatures start to drop, the organization responds to more house fires thanks to people trying to stay warm with heaters, candles and fireplaces, Klueppel said. In the past month, the Red Cross has helped 15 families that lost their homes to fire and catered to people affected by 90 home fires in Southeast Missouri, which is all counties east of Howell County and south of the St. Louis, last winter. Last winter's fires accounted for more than a third of the year's 250 fires.

In the past week, there have been house fires in Marble Hill, Scott County, Thebes, Ill., and Cape Girardeau. Like the Red Cross, firefighters notice the increase in blazes during the winter. In one fire Nov. 14, two children jumped from the second story of a Cape Girardeau home to avoid danger.

"Toward the Christmas and winter seasons, people start turning on the heat and we generally see an increase in fires," Cape Girardeau fire marshal Brian Shaffer said. Shaffer said he was unsure how many fires the Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to during last year's winter.

To prevent fires from starting during the winter, Shaffer said, use extension cords with caution, keep combustibles at least three feet away from open flames and try to use heaters with automatic shut-offs.

"Fires can be very avoidable if you exercise caution," Shaffer said.

Klueppel said to make sure smoke alarms are in working order and that families should have an escape plan in case of fire.

"We just want people to be safe this winter," she said.

To help victims like the ones affected by Thursday's fire, donations to the Red Cross can be mailed to 2430 Myra Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 or submitted online at www.semoredcross.org. People can also text the Red Cross at 90999 to make an automatic $10 donation.

psullivan@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

617 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2430 Myra Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO